Study Links Ultra-Processed Food Intake in U.S. Infants to Higher Added Sugar and Sodium Consumption
A recent study published in the journal *Nutrients* has found that ultra-processed food (UPF) intake during complementary feeding in infants is associated with higher consumption of added sugar and sodium. The research, conducted on a cohort of 114 healthy, full-term infants in the Denver metropolitan area of Colorado, analyzed dietary intake and growth data at approximately 5, 9, and 12 months of age. The study revealed that UPFs accounted for an average of 32% of energy intake from complementary foods. Researchers classified foods using the NOVA system, categorizing them based on their degree of processing. They observed that UPFs were more energy-dense, providing an average of 282 kcal per 100g compared to 128 kcal per 100g for minimally processed foods, and contained more sodium and less fiber. The consumption of UPFs increased over time, from about 4 kcal/kg/day at 5 months to 20 kcal/kg/day at 12 months. This increase in UPF intake was directly linked to higher added sugar consumption at both 9 and 1...
